Comments on: The Ethical & Responsible Travel Minefield

By: Brendan

Brendan — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:02:47 +0000

@Dan,
Thanks for the reply Dan, If you found my response to be an attack, I’m sorry for that. My point was to respond to the sole area of my knowledge contained in the article. That being Colombia and the drugs tours. And whilst, you may not be trained journalist, you are still conducting journalistic activities.
In other words, I immediately saw that your references to Colombia were a fabrication, it therefore brings into question the remaining statements in the article. It is no way meant as a personal attack, but whether you publish an article on the internet or in your local high school newsletter, it does not matter. Printing heresay or suppositions is unethical, and could be construed as sensationalist.
As someone who resides much of each year in Colombia, I showed this article (before it was edited) to several locals and all were unaminous in there disgust. I guess it is a little like trying to buy Fosters beer in Australia. It may be one of our most famous exports but it is almost impossible to find here! (i am Australian by the way). The same goes for Colombia, cocaine is almost impossible to find. Sure there are drugs available, but cocaine, forget it! Almost all is exported.
Again apologies for any offence taken. Brendan

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:16:10 +0000

@Brendan

You’re right, I don’t recall where I read that but I’ve not been able to find it again or anything to substantiate it so I have removed that passage.

You’re also right on the journalism part, I’ve never studied journalism and I don’t profess to be a journalist of any kind. I’m a blogger and sometimes bloggers and journalists alike make the mistake of not checking the details. I’ll do my best to not do it again.

As a frequent visitor to Cambodia with a keen interest in the country I stand by everything I wrote, I’ve seen it myself.

I might suggest that instead of attacking the author of the next article you find incorrect details within you simply inform them of the facts. My guess is that most of the time you’ll find they are willing to make changes and are even grateful for your help

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:34:54 +0000

I agree with your conclusion, sometimes there are too many variables that deciding what is the right thing to do is not easy. In my experience, I always try to decide if I am legitimately employing someone that is actually working for a living or if I am giving a “handout”. In cases where people “ambush” tourists as you say, this can be a hard decision. I also try to decide if the job that the person is performing would vanish if tourism somehow vanished. Sometimes it is a really bad thing for everyone to be dependent on tourists. By spending money in different ways, all tourists can influence how the local population is given incentives over what type of businesses to start and jobs to find.

By: Green Holidays & Adventures Last Blog Carnival of 2009

Green Holidays & Adventures Last Blog Carnival of 2009 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:07:09 +0000

[...] deep in some countries about cultural sites and landmarks where Dan gives us his opinions on The Ethical & Responsible Travel Minefield. Linking to this is a similar post by another writer: Take Care Not To Climb [...]

By: Brendan

Brendan — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:09:14 +0000

“More recently we have seen drug tours become popular in South America. While some are buying cheap cocaine direct from drug lords in Columbia there are others in Burma doing their hardest to make sure as little of their tourist dollar goes to the the ruling junta as possible.”

Being a frequent visitor to South America and Colombia (perhaps the author could at least learn how to spell the country’s name??) , these so called “drug tours” do not exist. Especially in Colombia. Even if they did, it would be incredibly dangerous and reckless to become involved in.

I cannot comment on Cambodia, but the obvious sensationalising of the Colombian aspect of this article, makes me wonder about the veracity of any of it!

Very poor piece of “journalism”, But I doubt you could call it that.

By: John Bardos - JetSetCitizen

John Bardos - JetSetCitizen — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:08:28 +0000

Another big one is the sex tourism in Thailand. That is out of control.

So many people feel they can do anything outside of their home countries. It is sad to see how desperate some countries are for money. Hopefully, income equalities will start to lesson and these abuses will become less common.

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:12:44 +0000

Ethical travel is very important. It is strange and difficult to abstain from certain “touristy” things when you know a different country is benefiting or they are not using the funds to maintain the site.

By the way, I went to Choung Ek and Toul Sleng and that was really difficult for me. Such a sad story that happened so recently.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:40:55 +0000

Tourism versus being too politically correct. I know with the Ayers Rock (Uluru) situation, some of the tourism dollars generated are given to the Aboriginal community. The PC brigade can’t have the best of both worlds.

I believe recently a viewing platform was built on/near the rock, in completely the wrong place!

By: The Ethical & Responsible Travel Minefield | Cambodia today

The Ethical & Responsible Travel Minefield | Cambodia today — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:54:43 +0000

[...] Continued here: The Ethical & Responsible Travel Minefield [...]